Bauchi Boosts Healthcare Outreach as UNICEF, Canada Donate 45 Motorcycles 

  Bauchi Boosts Healthcare Outreach as UNICEF, Canada Donate 45 Motorcycles

 By  Ahmad Muhmmmad, Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government has taken a major step to improve access to healthcare services with the receipt of 45 motorcycles donated by the government of Canada through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The motorcycles, delivered via UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, have been allocated to all 20 local government areas to support frontline health workers in reaching communities that are often difficult to access.

Speaking at the official handover ceremony on Monday, the head of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, said the initiative was designed to bridge critical gaps in immunisation coverage and primary healthcare delivery.

She explained that the intervention would enhance mobility for health personnel, enabling them to reach vulnerable populations, particularly in remote settlements where access to health facilities remains limited.

According to her, the support aligns with ongoing efforts to identify and vaccinate “zero-dose” children—those who have never received any routine immunisation—as well as to extend care to women who lack access to antenatal services.

“If communities cannot easily access healthcare facilities, then services must be taken closer to them. This is especially crucial for rural and underserved areas,” she said.

Rafique also raised concern over the persistently high rates of maternal and newborn deaths in parts of the North-East, stressing the need for deliberate and coordinated strategies to expand healthcare access and improve outcomes.

She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting Bauchi State through sustained partnerships aimed at improving the wellbeing of women, children, and adolescents.

Receiving the motorcycles on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Sani Dambam, described the donation as a timely intervention that would strengthen service delivery across the state.

He assured us that the motorcycles would be deployed effectively to enhance outreach programmes and bring essential healthcare services closer to rural populations.

Dambam, however, cautioned health workers against misuse of the equipment, warning that strict disciplinary measures would be enforced to ensure accountability and proper utilisation.

Also speaking, UNICEF Health Officer Seyi Olosunde noted that the donation coincided with activities marking the global campaign to promote immunisation awareness.

He highlighted the critical role vaccines play in preventing life-threatening diseases and improving public health, adding that immunisation platforms also provide opportunities to deliver other essential health services.

Olosunde said the motorcycles would significantly improve the reach of maternal, newborn, and child healthcare services by enabling health workers to travel more easily to hard-to-reach communities.

He added that, beyond vaccination, the outreach efforts would incorporate services such as antenatal care and adolescent health support, ultimately strengthening the overall healthcare system in Bauchi State.